Inside Reading Unit 6 Test

Name: _____________________________________ Date: _________________________

Read this passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.

The Perfect Cup

Many cultures drink coffee. Whether it’s a shot of espresso or a large brimming cup filled with
milk and sugar and stirred to a caramel color, people all over the world enjoy the drink. There are
many stories about who first discovered coffee. One says it was in the ninth century in Ethiopia.
A man was herding his goats when he saw them munching on coffee cherries. He tried some and
soon people all over Africa were drinking coffee and trading the beans. Over time, coffee spread
to the rest of the world. In fact, by 1750, most of Western Europe had coffee houses.

For such a popular drink, it’s a complex process to go from bean to coffee. The actual coffee
beans, or seeds, come from coffee cherries that grow on the trees. There are two techniques for
harvesting. Cherries can either be picked by hand or stripped off the trees by machines. Some
growers pick by hand because this ensures that only the ripe ones are picked. When done by
machine, all the cherries must be harvested at once, and some may not be ripe. The cherries have
a thick skin. Inside the skin is a fleshy layer, called pulp. The bean is inside the pulp, but it is
covered by two other thin layers that protect it. All these layers must be removed. Removing the
layers is called processing the beans. Once beans are processed, they are sorted and put into bags
so they can be shipped all over the world. But there’s still an important step before the beans can
be brewed for the perfect cup. They must be roasted. This gives them their taste. To preserve
their flavor, coffee suppliers recommend brewing the beans within a month.

Reading Comprehension

Mark each statement as T (True) or F (False) according to the Reading.

1. ____ The first coffee house was started by a goat herder in Ethiopia.

2. ____ Only the ripe coffee cherries are picked when they are picked by machine.

3. ____ After coffee cherries are picked, they are processed.

4. ____ Processing the beans gives them their flavor.

5. ____ To get the best taste, you should brew beans within a month.

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Reading Skill: Identifying Time Signals

Read each question. Fill in the blank with the correct answer from the Reading. There may
be more than one word that goes in the blank.

6. When did the goat herder find his goats munching on coffee cherries?

________________

7. After the goat herder discovered coffee, did it take a long time for coffee to spread
to the rest of Africa?

_________________

8. Did coffee spread to the rest of the world quickly or slowly?

_________________

9. When did most of Western Europe have coffee houses?

_________________

Vocabulary: Fill in the blank

Read the passage below. Fill in each blank with the correct word to complete the passage.

available culture diet discovered ensure

preserved rely significant supply techniques

An island in Japan is reported to have the longest-living people on it. One of the world’s
oldest living women was (10) ______________ to be living there. She died at the age of 116.
The (11) __________ of the people, which is mainly fish, is said to be a (12) ____________
reason that people there live so long. Because it’s surrounded by water, there is a large (13)
____________ of fish. Consequently, the people there (14) _______________ on fish as an
easily (15) ________________ food source.

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 Scientists have been studying the (16) ______________ for secrets to living a long life.
From their studies, scientists conclude that we can learn from the people on the island. While
eating fish doesn’t (17) ____________ a long life, it is a good source of protein that is also low
in fat. In addition, many people on the island drink green tea, which also has health benefits.
Another factor is that the diet of the people has not changed much over time. Because they have
(18) ________________ their eating habits, they eat a lot less fat than other cultures. While the
people who live there don’t practice any special dieting (19) _______________, many eat a
healthy diet. And more and more studies are showing that eating a good diet is one of the most
significant factors for staying healthy.

Writing Prompt

20. Describe a food or drink that many people enjoy. Why do people like it? When is it
eaten? Write six to eight sentences.

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